2026 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Minnesota
[Welding Technology/Welder](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/welding-technology-welder/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for welding technology/welder students.
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2026 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in welding technology/welder, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools
South Central College earned the #1 spot for value among welding technology/welder schools in Minnesota. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,146. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $3,666 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of South Central College earn a median of $41,527 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Riverland Community College one of the best values for welding technology/welder. Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,297. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $15,732. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt.
Hennepin Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in welding technology/welder, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $9,329. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College generally make around $56,143. Set against $9,329 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in welding technology/welder will find it at Pine Technical College, which ranked #4. Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Pine City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,738. Students borrow a median of $22,454 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Pine Technical College generally make around $44,905. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in welding technology/welder, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $17,029. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $44,387. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ridgewater College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,121. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $9,750. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Ridgewater College generally make around $44,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dakota County Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,679 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $5,500. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $50,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Cloud Technical And Community College earned the #8 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from St Cloud Technical And Community College generally make around $49,636. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College earned the #9 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,491. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $13,946 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Minnesota West Community And Technical College earn a median of $42,830 early in their careers. Set against $13,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Anoka Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Anoka Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Anoka. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,267. Students borrow a median of $8,692 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Anoka Technical College earn a median of $50,690 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,692 median debt.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College placed #11 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,326. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $9,928 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earn a median of $50,842 early in their careers. Set against $9,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Lakes College Brainerd earned the #12 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,249 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $5,500. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Central Lakes College Brainerd earn a median of $40,671 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Rochester Community And Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,389. Students borrow a median of $20,291 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $47,439. Set against $20,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northland Community And Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,289 in tuition and fees. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $18,550 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Northland Community And Technical College earn a median of $46,528 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College earned the #15 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $6,161 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $24,036. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $44,635. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alexandria Technical And Community College landed the #16 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,236. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Alexandria Technical And Community College generally make around $51,141. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical earned the #17 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,432 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $12,500. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $49,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Superior College came in at #18 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785. Students borrow a median of $13,350 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Lake Superior College generally make around $43,610. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dunwoody College Of Technology placed #19 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,477 in tuition and fees. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $9,167 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Dunwoody College Of Technology generally make around $49,874. That is a strong return on a $9,167 median debt. Dunwoody College Of Technology admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
